Garden Time

Soggy summer here in Maine, so the garden is looking a little sad this year. Last year's bounty was inspiring, though--especially the mysterious "volunteers" that grow on their own. Last year I picked four gorgeous acorn squash that I didn't plant. Several years ago a mystery vine grew out of my compost heap, and produced 32 little pumpkins! Well, inspite of this year's meager crop, my new book, Mystery Vine, will be ready for harvest in August. 

Greenwillow Books has posted an activity page for the book here,

that includes little growing projects like these:

Ruby Slippers

Shape Capers traveled to Kansas last week by invitation from the The Marianna Kistler Beach Museum of Art in Manhattan, Kansas, and a grant from the Kansas Arts Commission. A grand time was had by nearly 300 shape-making munchkins! 

After leaving Manhattan (also known as the "Little Apple"), we stopped in Wamego, birthplace of my dear Aunt Norma, and home of the Oz Museum. Since I am a devoted fan of The Wizard of Oz, we of course took the tour down the yellow brick road! After a lovely visit with relatives in Eudora, Lawrence, and Overland Park, it was time to click my heals together three times and head back to Maine, where my very own ruby slippers (aka: pink ladies slippers) rest by the pond.